High skin permeation, deposition and whitening activity achieved by xanthan gum string vitamin c flexible liposomes for external application.

For most external applied antioxidant whitening ingredients, effective stratum corneum breakthrough, epidermal penetration and dermal deposition are necessary premises for inhibition of melanin production and transfer occurring in stratum basale. Herein, xanthan gum was added into vitamin C-containing flexible liposome (Vc-L) suspension. The long polymer chain of xanthan gum string dispersed Vc-L together to gain a lotion (Vc-LX) for external application. In this study, the storage stability experiments demonstrated that the additional xanthan gum could improve the storage stability of Vc liposome suspension. The cumulative in vitro skin penetration and deposition of Vc-LX was found to significantly increase within 24 h in mouse skin, compared with those of the Vc aqueous solution and Vc conventional liposomes treated groups (p < 0.001). Most importantly, in vivo skin whitening experiments gave that Vc-LX has better skin whitening activity (ΔL*) than marketed products (GARNIER® Vc377), Vc flexible liposomes, and Vc conventional liposomes. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity experiments and skin irritation experiments demonstrated that Vc-LX has good biosafety. Therefore, this study suggested that Vc-LX may be a promising local skin delivery system for water-soluble antioxidant ingredients.